LEWIS Hamilton will start today’s Canadian Grand Prix from pole position as the young British driver bids to follow up his superb win in Monaco two weeks ago with another victory.

Hamilton, who scored his maiden grand prix win in Montreal last year, dealt with a gusting wind, a track that appeared to be breaking up in places, and his opponents’ best efforts to give himself the best possible chance of success in this afternoon’s race.

If he can see off the challenge from Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen, who qualified third, and Felipe Massa, who qualified only sixth fastest, on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton will widen his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship.

However, the greatest threat may come from BMW driver Robert Kubica, the Polish driver who shrugged off memories of a horrific crash on this track last year to qualify alongside Hamilton on the front row.

Kubica believes this is the race that could provide the German manufacturer’s team with their best chance of registering a race win this season, but the Pole may have to rely on good fortune – in the shape of at least one safety-car intervention – if his hopes of matching the McLaren’s acceleration and braking performance, as well as ability to ride the numerous high kerbs of this circuit, are to be realised.

The condition of the track is also causing real concern. Once qualifying started, pieces of tarmac quickly began to accumulate just off the racing line, making the slightest deviation fraught with danger. Even so, Hamilton’s final lap was wheel perfect, to give him pole by more than half a second – a dominant margin at a circuit he enjoys.

Hamilton’s performance in Monaco confirmed his increasing maturity as a race driver. While he was the first to acknowledge the element of luck in his win in the Principality, the manner in which he took advantage of the cards falling his way after he hit the barrier on the sixth lap was masterly.

At just 23, and in only his second season as an F1 driver, Hamilton is beginning to radiate the assurance and confidence of a driver with far more than just 24 grand prix starts to his name. In terms of speed, the Ferraris have had a very slight edge on the McLaren Mercedes cars this season, but despite the Anglo-German team being outscored by four wins to two before today’s race, it is Hamilton who sits at the top of the championship. And this time, unlike last year, he is dsetermined not to be caught.

Mark Webber, who finished as fifth fastest in the second qualifying session, spun out as the section ended, missed the shootout when he lost the back end of his Red Bull, the spin seeing his nose cone hit the barrier. It is a blow for the Australian, who has been a revelation in qualifying this season.

The break-up of the track at the newly resurfaced hairpin forced the brooms back out to clear the driving line of the gritty debris ahead of the final top10 shootout.

Drivers also reported problems at a variety of turns, with David Coulthard describing driving conditions as “incredibly difficult, like driving on a train track”.

After a week during which the sport has once again been dragged through the gutter by the publicity surrounding FIA president Max Mosley’s determination to cling to power, Formula One desperately needs the focus of attention to switch back to the action on the track.

The saga will not go away however, with Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo – hitherto regarded as being firmly in the Mosley camp - appearing to add his weight to calls for Mosley to step down, only to issue a “clarification” insisting that he was happy that Mosley had been ‘reelected’.